Fencing at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Qualification

This article details the qualifying phase for fencing at the 2024 Summer Olympics. The competition will comprise a total of 212 fencers, with an equal distribution between men and women, coming from the different NOCs, similar to the Tokyo 2020 roster size. Qualified NOCs can enter a maximum of eighteen fencers (nine per gender), with each consisting of a trio, whether men's or women's, across all weapon-based team events (foil, épée, and sabre).[2]

About two-thirds of the total quota will be attributed to the world's top fencers based on the points accrued in the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) Official Ranking between April 3, 2023 and April 1, 2024, with further individual places available at each of the four zonal qualifying tournaments (Africa, Asia & Oceania, Europe, and the Americas).[2]

The team events will offer eight to nine spots for all registered NOCs competing in each weapon. Each team must be composed of three fencers (or a fencing trio). The top four teams in each weapon will qualify directly for the Games, with the next set of places assigned to the highest-ranked nation from each of the continental zones (Africa, Asia & Oceania, Europe, and the Americas) between fifth and sixteenth position. If a zone does not field any teams within the specific ranking (from fifth to sixteenth place), the top-ranked team eligible for qualification will secure a spot irrespective of the continent.[2][1]

For the individual events, quota places vary from a minimum of 34 to a maximum of 37. With the team members directly entered into their respective individual competitions, six more places will be awarded to the eligible fencers based on the FIE Adjusted Official Ranking list by the continental zone of April 1, 2024: the top two fencers each from Europe and Asia & Oceania; and the highest-ranked fencer each from the Americas and Africa. The zonal qualifying tournaments will offer four available spots with one each to the NOCs without a qualified fencer, male or female, in one or more weapons by the two previous pathways.[2][1]

Host nation France reserves six fencing spots to be distributed between the team and individual events apart from the qualified fencers through the pathways mentioned above, respecting the maximum quota of athletes per NOC (three per weapon). If the French fencers qualified directly for the team event, they can use two quota places if the NOC contains a single qualified fencer in a corresponding individual event; or three if none of them compete in a corresponding individual event. Two further spots, along with those unused by the host country, will be attributed to the eligible NOCs interested to have their fencers compete in Paris under the Universality rules, respecting the 37-fencer limit for each weapon-based individual event.[2][1]

Timeline

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Section Date Venue
FIE Official Ranking (start) April 3, 2023
FIE Official Ranking (end) April 1, 2024
Zonal Qualifying Tournament – America April 6–7, 2024   San Jose
Zonal Qualifying Tournament – Europe April 26–28, 2024   Differdange
Zonal Qualifying Tournament – Africa April 27, 2024   Algiers
Zonal Qualifying Tournament – Asia & Oceania April 27–28, 2024   Dubai

Qualification summary

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Nation Men Women Total
Individual Team Individual Team
Épée Foil Sabre Épée Foil Sabre Épée Foil Sabre Épée Foil Sabre
  Algeria 1 3   4
  Argentina 1 1
  Azerbaijan 1 1
  Belgium 1 1
  Brazil 1 1 1 3
  Bulgaria 1 1
  Canada 1 3 3     1 3 1   12
  Cape Verde 1 1
  Chile 1 1
  China 1 3 1   3 3 1     12
  Chinese Taipei 1 1
  Colombia 1 1
  Cyprus 1 1
  Czech Republic 3 1   4
  Egypt 3 3 3       3 3 1     16
  Estonia 1 1
  France 3 3 3       3 3 3       18
  Georgia 1 1
  Germany 1 1 2
  Greece 1 1
  Hong Kong 1 1 1 1 4
  Hungary 3 1 3     1 1 3   12
  Iran 3   3
  Israel 1 1
  Italy 3 3 3       3 3 3       18
  Ivory Coast 1 1 2
  Japan 3 3 1     1 3 3     14
  Kazakhstan 3   1 4
  Kenya 1 1
  Kuwait 1 1
  Lebanon 1 1
  Mexico 1 1
  Morocco 1 1 2
  Netherlands 1 1
  Niger 1 1
  Peru 1 1
  Philippines 1 1
  Poland 3   3 3     9
  Romania 1 1
  Rwanda 1 1
  Senegal 1 1
  Singapore 1 1 2
  South Africa 1 1
  South Korea 1 1 3   3 3     11
  Spain 1 1 2
  Switzerland 1 1 2
  Tunisia 1 1 2
  Turkey 1 1 2
  Ukraine 3 3     6
  United States 3 3     3 3 3       15
  Uzbekistan 1 1
  Venezuela 3   1 4
  Virgin Islands 1 1
Total: 52 NOCs 35 37 34 8 8 8 36 34 36 8 8 8 212

Men's events

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Men's épée

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Standard Places Qualified fencer
Qualified team members 24   Yannick Borel (FRA)
  Romain Cannone (FRA)
  Luidgi Midleton (FRA)
  Davide Di Veroli (ITA)
  Andrea Santarelli (ITA)
  Federico Vismara (ITA)
  Japan
  Japan
  Japan
  Hungary
  Hungary
  Hungary
  Kazakhstan
  Kazakhstan
  Kazakhstan
  Venezuela
  Venezuela
  Venezuela
  Czech Republic
  Czech Republic
  Czech Republic
  Egypt
  Egypt
  Egypt
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania 2   Wang Zijie (CHN)
  Kim Jae-won (KOR)
Top individual AOR: Africa 1   Houssam El Kord (MAR)
Top individual AOR: America 1   Jhon Édison Rodríguez (COL)
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe 2   Yuval Freilich (ISR)
  Neisser Loyola (BEL)
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania 1   Ho Wai Hang (HKG)
Zonal tournament: Africa 1   Harry Saner (RSA)
Zonal tournament: America 1   Nicholas Zhang (CAN)
Zonal tournament: Europe 1   Tristan Tulen (NED)
Re-allocation of unused quota 1   Alexis Bayard (SUI)
Total 35

Men's team épée

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Standard Places Qualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking 4   France
  Italy
  Japan
  Hungary
Top team from Africa in positions 5–16 1   Egypt
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–16 1   Kazakhstan
Top team from America in positions 5–16 1   Venezuela
Top team from Europe in positions 5–16 1   Czech Republic
Host country option 0
Total 8

Men's foil

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Standard Places Qualified fencer[3]
Qualified team members 24   Kazuki Iimura (JPN)
  Kyosuke Matsuyama (JPN)
  Takahiro Shikine (JPN)
  Guillaume Bianchi (ITA)
  Filippo Macchi (ITA)
  Tommaso Marini (ITA)
  Nick Itkin (USA)
  Alexander Massialas (USA)
  Gerek Meinhardt (USA)
  Enzo Lefort (FRA)
  Julien Mertine (FRA)
  Maxime Pauty (FRA)
  Chen Haiwei (CHN)
  Mo Zhiwei (CHN)
  Xu Jie (CHN)
  Egypt
  Egypt
  Egypt
  Jan Jurkiewicz (POL)
  Michał Siess (POL)
  Adrian Wojtkowiak (POL)
  Blake Broszus (CAN)
  Daniel Gu (CAN)
  Maximilien Van Haaster (CAN)
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania 2   Cheung Ka Long (HKG)
  Ha Tae-gyu (KOR)
Top individual AOR: Africa 1   Salim Heroui (ALG)
Top individual AOR: America 1   Guilherme Toldo (BRA)
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe 2   Dániel Dósa (HUN)
  Alexander Choupenitch (CZE)
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania 1   Chen Yi-tung (TPE)
Zonal tournament: Africa 1   Jérémy Keryhuel (CIV)
Zonal tournament: America 1   Kruz Schembri (ISV)
Zonal tournament: Europe 1   Alex Tofalides (CYP)
Tripartite Invitation 2   Victor Alvares (CPV)
  Philippe Wakim (LBN)
Reallocation of unused quota 1   Carlos Llavador (ESP)
Total 37

Men's team foil

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Standard Places Qualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking 4   Japan
  Italy
  United States
  France
Top team from Africa in positions 5–16 1   Egypt
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–16 1   China
Top team from America in positions 5–16 1   Canada
Top team from Europe in positions 5–16 1   Poland
Host country option 0
Total 8

Men's sabre

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Standard Places Qualified fencer
Qualified team members 24   Gu Bon-gil (KOR)
  Oh Sang-uk (KOR)
  Park Sang-won (KOR)
  Eli Dershwitz (USA)
  Colin Heathcock (USA)
  Mitchell Saron (USA)
  Hungary
  Hungary
  Hungary
  Boladé Apithy (FRA)
  Sébastien Patrice (FRA)
  Maxime Pianfetti (FRA)
  Luca Curatoli (ITA)
  Luigi Samele (ITA)
  Pietro Torre (ITA)
  Iran
  Iran
  Iran
  Egypt
  Egypt
  Egypt
  Canada
  Canada
  Canada
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania 2   Kento Yoshida (JPN)
  Yousef Al-Shamlan (KUW)
Top individual AOR: Africa 1   Farès Ferjani (TUN)
Top individual AOR: America 1   Pascual di Tella (ARG)
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe 2   Sandro Bazadze (GEO)
  Matyas Szabo (GER)
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania 1   Shen Chenpeng (CHN)
Zonal tournament: Africa 1   Evann Girault (NIG)
Zonal tournament: America 1   Gibrán Zea (MEX)
Zonal tournament: Europe 1   Enver Yıldırım (TUR)
Total 34

Men's team sabre

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Standard Places Qualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking 4   South Korea
  United States
  Hungary
  France
Top team from Africa in positions 5–16 1   Egypt
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–16 1   Iran
Top team from America in positions 5–16 1   Canada
Top team from Europe in positions 5–16 1   Italy
Host country option 0
Total 8

Women's events

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Women's épée

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Standard Places Qualified fencer
Qualified team members 24   Rossella Fiamingo (ITA)
  Giulia Rizzi (ITA)
  Alberta Santuccio (ITA)
  Choi In-jeong (KOR)
  Kang Young-mi (KOR)
  Song Se-ra (KOR)
  Alicja Klasik (POL)
  Renata Knapik-Miazga (POL)
  Martyna Swatowska-Wenglarczyk (POL)
  Marie-Florence Candassamy (FRA)
  Auriane Mallo (FRA)
  Coraline Vitalis (FRA)
  Ukraine
  Ukraine
  Ukraine
  Anne Cebula (USA)
  Hadley Husisian (USA)
  Margherita Guzzi Vincenti (USA)
  China
  China
  China
  Egypt
  Egypt
  Egypt
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania 2   Vivian Kong (HKG)
  Miho Yoshimura (JPN)
Top individual AOR: Africa 1   Alexandra Ndolo (KEN)
Top individual AOR: America 1   Nathalie Moellhausen (BRA)
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe 2   Eszter Muhari (HUN)
  Nelli Differt (EST)
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania 1   Kiria Tikanah (SGP)
Zonal tournament: Africa 1   Ndèye Binta Diongue (SEN)
Zonal tournament: America 1   María Luisa Doig (PER)
Zonal tournament: Europe 1   Pauline Brunner (SUI)
Tripartite Invitation 1   Uwihoreye Tufaha (RWA)
Reallocation of unused quota 1   Ruien Xiao (CAN)
Total 36

Women's team épée

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Standard Places Qualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking 4   Italy
  South Korea
  Poland
  France
Top team from Africa in positions 5–16 1   Egypt
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–16 1   China
Top team from America in positions 5–16 1   United States
Top team from Europe in positions 5–16 1   Ukraine
Host country option 0
Total 8

Women's foil

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Standard Places Qualified fencer[4]
Qualified team members 24   Arianna Errigo (ITA)
  Martina Favaretto (ITA)
  Alice Volpi (ITA)
  Jackie Dubrovich (USA)
  Lee Kiefer (USA)
  Lauren Scruggs (USA)
  France
  France
  France
  Japan
  Japan
  Japan
  Canada
  Canada
  Canada
  Chen Qiangyuan (CHN)
  Huang Qianqian (CHN)
  Wang Yuting (CHN)
  Martyna Jelińska (POL)
  Hanna Łyczbińska (POL)
  Julia Walczyk-Klimaszyk (POL)
  Egypt
  Egypt
  Egypt
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania 2   Amita Berthier (SGP)
  Daphne Chan (HKG)
Top individual AOR: Africa 1   Maxine Esteban (CIV)
Top individual AOR: America 1   Arantxa Inostroza (CHI)
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe 2   Anne Sauer (GER)
  Flóra Pásztor (HUN)
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania 1   Samantha Catantan (PHI)
Zonal tournament: Africa 1   Youssra Zekrani (MAR)
Zonal tournament: America 1   Mariana Pistoia (BRA)
Zonal tournament: Europe 1   Mălina Călugăreanu (ROU)
Total 34

Women's team foil

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Standard Places Qualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking 4   Italy
  United States
  France
  Japan
Top team from Africa in positions 5–16 1   Egypt
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–16 1   China
Top team from America in positions 5–16 1   Canada
Top team from Europe in positions 5–16 1   Poland
Host country option 0
Total 8

Women's sabre

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Standard Places Qualified fencer[5]
Qualified team members 24   Sara Balzer (FRA)
  Cécilia Berder (FRA)
  Manon Brunet (FRA)
  Hungary
  Hungary
  Hungary
  Choi Se-bin (KOR)
  Jeon Ha-young (KOR)
  Yoon Ji-su (KOR)
  Ukraine
  Ukraine
  Ukraine
  Tatiana Nazlymov (USA)
  Magda Skarbonkiewicz (USA)
  Elizabeth Tartakovsky (USA)
  Michela Battiston (ITA)
  Martina Criscio (ITA)
  Chiara Mormile (ITA)
  Japan
  Japan
  Japan
  Kaouther Mohamed Belkebir (ALG)
  Saoussen Boudiaf (ALG)
  Zohra Nora Kehli (ALG)
Top 2 individual AOR: Asia & Oceania 2   Yang Hengyu (CHN)
  Zaynab Dayibekova (UZB)
Top individual AOR: Africa 1   Nada Hafez (EGY)
Top individual AOR: America 1   Pamela Brind'Amour (CAN)
Top 2 individual AOR: Europe 2   Theodora Gkountoura (GRE)
  Lucía Martín-Portugués (ESP)
Zonal tournament: Asia & Oceania 1   Aigerim Sarybay (KAZ)
Zonal tournament: Africa 1   Yasmine Daghfous (TUN)
Zonal tournament: America 1   Katherine Paredes (VEN)
Zonal tournament: Europe 1   Yoana Ilieva (BUL)
Re-allocation of unused quota 2   Anna Bashta (AZE)
  Nisanur Erbil (TUR)
Total 36

Women's team sabre

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Standard Places Qualified teams
Top four in FIE Official Team Ranking 4   France
  Hungary
  South Korea
  Ukraine
Top team from Africa in positions 5–16 1   Algeria
Top team from Asia & Oceania in positions 5–16 1   Japan
Top team from America in positions 5–16 1   United States
Top team from Europe in positions 5–16 1   Italy
Host country option 0
Total 8

Controversy

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Olga Kharlan qualification in women's sabre

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Since July 1, 2020 (and reconfirmed by FIE public notice in September 2020 and in January 2021), by public written notice the FIE had replaced its previous handshake requirement with a "salute" by the opposing fencers, and written in its public notice that handshakes were "suspended until further notice."[6][7][8][9][10] Nevertheless, in July 2023 when Ukrainian four-time world fencing individual sabre champion Olga Kharlan was disqualified at the World Fencing Championships by the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime for not shaking the hand of her defeated Russian opponent, though Kharlan instead offered a tapping of blades in acknowledgement, Bach stepped in the next day.[11][12] As President of the IOC, he sent a letter to Kharlan in which he expressed empathy for her, and wrote that in light of the situation she was being guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics.[13][14] He wrote further: "as a fellow fencer, it is impossible for me to imagine how you feel at this moment. The war against your country, the suffering of the people in Ukraine, the uncertainty around your participation at the Fencing World Championships ... and then the events which unfolded yesterday - all this is a roller coaster of emotions and feelings. It is admirable how you are managing this incredibly difficult situation, and I would like to express my full support to you. Rest assured that the IOC will continue to stand in full solidarity with the Ukrainian athletes and the Olympic community of Ukraine."[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Qualification System – Games of the XXXIII Olympiad – Fencing" (PDF). FIE. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e Fava, Gisella; Kim, EJ Monica; Martín, Marta (13 December 2022). "How to qualify for fencing at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  3. ^ "Foil Men qualification". FIE. 18 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Foil Women qualification". FIE. 18 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Sabre Women qualification". FIE. 18 March 2024.
  6. ^ Jomantas, Nicole (6 March 2020). "Handshaking Rule Suspended at USA Fencing Events". USA Fencing.
  7. ^ Hopkins, Amanda (12 March 2020). "Oceania U20s and Handshaking Rule". Fencing New Zealand.
  8. ^ "Handshaking Rule Temporarily Suspended". British Fencing. 5 March 2020.
  9. ^ "FIE OUTLINE of RISK-MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS for NATIONAL FENCING FEDERATIONS and COMPETITION ORGANIZERS in the CONTEXT of COVID-19; PREPARED by FIE TASK FORCE and REVIEWED by FIE MEDICAL COMMISSION and FIE LEGAL COMMISSION," FIE, 1 July 2020 and September 2020.
  10. ^ "FIE OUTLINE of RISK-MITIGATION REQUIREMENTS for NATIONAL FENCING FEDERATIONS and COMPETITION ORGANISERS in the CONTEXT of COVID-19 (FORMIR – COVID-19) PREPARED by FIE TASK FORCE and REVIEWED by FIE MEDICAL COMMISSION and FIE LEGAL COMMISSION," FIE, January 2021.]
  11. ^ "World Fencing Championships: Ukraine's Olga Kharlan disqualified for refusing Russian Anna Smirnov's handshake". BBC. 27 July 2023.
  12. ^ Aadi Nair (27 July 2023). "Ukrainian fencer disqualified from world championships for refusing handshake with Russian opponent; Olga Kharlan offered to touch blades after beating Anna Smirnova, who then staged a sit-down protest at the handshake refusal". The Independent.
  13. ^ "Ukrainian fencer won't shake hands with Russian at world championships, gets Olympic spot". USA TODAY.
  14. ^ Yevhen Kizilov (28 July 2023). "Ukrainian fencer gets automatically qualified for Olympics". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
    "Russia-Ukraine conflict: Fencer Olga Kharlan ban lifted as she is handed Olympic spot". BBC Sport. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  15. ^ "Ukraine's Kharlan assured of Paris 2024 place by IOC after handshake furore". Inside the Games. 28 July 2023.